🚨 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has temporarily relaxed certain hours-of-service (HOS) rules for truck drivers transporting gasoline and diesel fuel.

What is changing?

Normally, federal rules limit how long commercial truck drivers can operate. Under this temporary waiver, fuel haulers get more flexibility to work longer hours so gasoline and diesel can keep moving during a period of expected higher demand and supply-chain disruptions.

👉 The waiver is effective September 16 through December 16, 2026.

Key limits and requirements

Even with the waiver, drivers cannot simply drive indefinitely. They must:

• Drive no more than 16 hours in any 24-hour period.
• Take at least a 6-consecutive-hour sleeper-berth break during each 24-hour period, or 8 consecutive hours off duty if no sleeper berth is available.
• Have a valid CDL and required endorsements and not be disqualified or under an out-of-service order.
• Carry a physical or digital copy of the waiver and show it to law enforcement if requested.
• Get at least 10 consecutive hours off duty if they tell their carrier they need immediate rest.
• Take a 10-hour break when transitioning back to normal operations if the applicable combined operating time reaches 14 hours.
• Continue complying with all other federal and state laws, including hazardous-materials rules, CDL requirements, drug/alcohol testing, insurance, and vehicle size/weight rules.

Who does not qualify?

The waiver does not provide relief to:

• Motor carriers/drivers currently under an out-of-service order until that order is formally rescinded.
• Motor carriers with a conditional safety rating.

What happens if there is a crash?

If a truck operating under the waiver is involved in a qualifying crash, the motor carrier must notify FMCSA within 2 business days and provide information such as:

• Date and location
• Driver and vehicle information
• Injuries and fatalities
• Reported cause
• Any citations
• The driver's recent on-duty and driving hours

Why is FMCSA doing this?

FMCSA says the waiver is intended to prevent fuel shortages or distribution problems by making it easier for trucking companies to move gasoline and diesel during the late summer/fall period, particularly as agricultural harvesting and transportation demand increase.

FMCSA determined that the temporary flexibility is in the public interest and believes the additional safety conditions provide an equivalent level of safety to the normal rules.

Bottom line for:

Fuel-hauling trucking companies: This is a temporary opportunity to operate beyond the normal HOS restrictions, potentially allowing longer driving schedules.

Drivers: The biggest practical change is the 16-hour maximum driving limit, combined with mandatory rest periods and a number of eligibility and documentation requirements.

Everyone else: This does not suspend trucking safety rules generally. It is narrowly focused on interstate transportation of gasoline and diesel fuel and lasts only until December 16, 2026.

✅ PMTA has confirmed with the Pennsylvania State Police Administration that PA will also honor the waiver.

🔗 READ WAIVER